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a week the parasite is developed — escaping from its cocoon by pushing open a nicely fitting 

 lid." The caterpillars infested by these parasites, manifest extraordinary vitality. One 

 would think that the presence of such a host of comparatively large voracious creatures 

 consuming the internal portions of the body, would naturally produce sickness and prema- 

 ture death ; but such is not the case. Mr. Riley in the second of his excellent reports on 

 the insects of Missouri, states that " while one of these caterpillars in its normal and 

 healthy condition, may be starved to death in two or three days ; another that is writh- 

 ing with its body full of parasites, will live without food for as many weeks. Indeed, I 

 have known one to rest for three weeks without food, in a semi-paralyzed condition, and 

 after the parasite flies had all escaped from their cocoons, it would rouse itself and make 

 a desperate effort to regain strength by nibbling &t a leaf which was offered to it." 



But no larva thus infested ever reaches maturity — they invariably die. Fig. 36^ is 

 a faithful representation of one of the caterpillars with its crop of cocoons of the parasite, 

 .ripening on its surface. From the shape and color of these cocoons, they are sometimes 

 p IG . 36. erroneously supposed to be the eggs of the caterpillar, and hence 



pains is taken to destroy the very thing that should be cherished ; 

 thus showing the great necessity there is for the diffusion of 

 more correct ideas regarding these subjects among the people 

 generally. This friendly parasite has, we are happy to say, 

 Color— White. established itself in the neighborhood of London ; and this sum- 



mer, we have seen for the first time, one of the larva? of this common grape vine sphinx, 

 almost entirely covered with its little snowy white cocoons. We have not been able to 

 ascertain how far it prevails in other parts of Canada. 



When the caterpillar has attained its full size, and provided also it is free from 

 ichneumons, it descends from the vine and draws loDsely together a few leaves, binding 

 them with silken threads — generally about or near the base of the vine on which it has 

 fed, and in this rude structure undergoes its next change. 



After remaining some two or three days in a state of quiet, the body meantime grow- 

 ing shorter and thicker, a rent occurs in the caterpillar's skin along the back, and a pale 

 yellowish chrysalis appears, which works itself by wriggling motions entirely out of the 

 skin, which contracts as it is thrown off — remaining at Fig. 37. 



the close of the operation, as a small shrivelled mass 

 attached slightly to the posterior extremity or hanging 

 to some of the adjoining silken threads. In a day or two 

 the chrysalis grows darker in color, becoming pale brown 

 with numerous black dots sprinkled over its surface. 

 Along each side is a row of prominent oval black spots, 



which are the breathing holes or stigmata-a good repre- Colors _ Yellowish and Brown . 

 sentation of this chrysalis is given m iig. 37. 



The perfect insect which in due time bursts the bonds of this death-like sleep, appears 

 in a beautiful garb of green. It is a moth belonging to the family of Hawk moths, so 

 called from their habit of hovering in the air while taking their food. The various mem- 

 bers of this family are furnished with a 

 slender proboscis, which when at rest, is 

 coiled up underneath the brease, but can 

 be extended at will, and thus when poised 

 in the air over a flower, the slender 

 tongue is thrust to the bottom and the 

 sweets secured. 



The wings of this insect, Fig. 38, when 

 fully expanded, measure about two and 

 a half inches — their form is long and nar- 

 row. The anterior pair are of a dar 

 olive green color, crossed by bands and 

 Colors— Olive Green and Grey. streaks of greenish, grey, and shaded on 



the outer margin with the same. The hind wings are dull red, with a patch of 

 .greenish' grey on that part of the hinder margin nearest the body— shading gradually 



